Rave On Line Fanzine - Issue 2 - Programme Review

Last updated : 14 February 2005 By Rave On Line Editor
• Issue 2• Alloa Derby Special• February 16th

RAVE ON LINE

The Independant Online Football Fanzine of Stirling Albion F.C.

Programme Review 2004/05 by Scott Johnstone

Rave On Line brings you part one of the Second Division Programme Review for season 2004/05. With a collection of over 500 football programme, Scott Johnstone reviews five of the items which make the Football experience that little bit better. The ratings below are of a purely personal view and congratulations must go to all the editors who spend a lot of time and effort into producing the programmes.

Arbroath

Price:£1.50
Size:A5 (24 pages)
Colour:28%
Adverts:12 pages
EditorIan Angus
Printer:Astute Visual Comunications
Ranking:7th

In style this programme is very similar to Forfar's, it has a nice amount of colour and is on glossy paper. It has some good content, especially on the history of the Red Litchies. However, with absolutely nothing on the visiting team, and a limited amount of reading, the programme falls quite a bit short of the mark for the price of £1.50.

Ayr United

Price:£2.00
Size:B5 (32 pages)
Colour:75%
Adverts:14 pages
Editor:Iain Ferguson
Printer:Fasprint
Ranking:3rd

The most colourful programme in the league, printed on excellent quality paper, each page has at least some colour in it. The content itself is excellent, with interviews from representatives of both the home and away teams, information on the Honest Men Trust and a number of other very readable articles. Along with the impressive content, is the excellent use of colour, of which the highlight would be a 2 page full colour photo of one of the home teams stars. The only draw back on this programme, would be the price. At £1.50 it would be excellent value for money, but the decision to make it the most expensive programme in the league at £2.00, makes it an even more expensive day out for the travelling football supporter.

Brechin City

Price:£1.50
Size:A5 (40 pages)
Colour:30%
Adverts:11 adverts
EditorStephen Mitchell
Printer:City Press, Brechin
Ranking:1st

Although a big fan of the £1.00 programme, this excellent edition goes completely against my usual preferences, and is outstanding value for money at £1.50. It is jam packed full off interesting information, from the excellent articles on the visiting sides, to local club information and historical reviews. This programme is a model for other clubs, and with in my opinion the perfect mixture between colour and black and white, and articles, statistics and adverts, it quite easily wins Rave On Line's Second Division Programme of the Year. Well done to all involved, this edition will put many SPL programmes to shame.

Dumbarton

Price:£1.50
Size:A5 (28 pages)
Colour:35%
Adverts:12 advert pages
Editor:Graeme Robertson
Printer:City Press, Brechin
Ranking:8th

Produced by the Sons Supporters Trust, they can be forgiven for trying to maximise profits. The pages within the programme have an excellent layout, and of what reading there it is a good read, although perhaps aimed only at home fans. However, with only 8 pages of reading, of which 2 are match reports, it certainly is not worth the £1.50 price.

Greenock Morton

Price:£1.50
Size:B5 (28 pages)
Colour:65%
Adverts:11 pages
Editor:Susan Gregory
Printer:Garthland
Ranking:2nd

Another programme full of colour and printed on glossy paper, and although it contains slightly less reading than the Ayr United programme, it is properly more value for money at 50p cheaper. Contains some excellent articles on both the visiting sides, and on matter closer to home, including a supporters trust article and a couple of personal columns as well as look through the years. Although lagging a bit behind Brechin City's "The Spire" the Tons programme is still good value for money with nice presentation, interesting articles and plenty of colour.

Programme Monthly

"Programme Monthly and Football Collectable" contains over 150 pages each month on all aspects of football collecting. The current edition is available priced £2.70 (inclusive of postage) from 46 Milton Road, Kircaldy, Fife, KY1 1LT; or send 9 x 1st class stamps. To visit their website click on the link below.